Customer Reviews

The Merlin Conspiracy

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Diana Wynne Jones is probably the best British fantasy author out there, and she is finally starting to get her recognition.

This is a semi-sequel to "Deep Secret", since it carries on the story of Nick Mallory, one of the principal characters. Still casting about for a way to develop his magical talents, he becomes swept up in the efforts of our other point of view character, Roddy, a teenage girl on the world of Blest (an alternate England where the King progresses around the kingdom most of the year) to defeat a magical conspiracy led by some nasty characters.

Filled with delightful moments...and captivating characters, from Nick himself to the enigmatic, powerful character of Romanov, a very strong mage whom Nick encounters while floundering from world to world, to an escaped elephant named Mini.

As is usual in Jones's work, it is not all sweetness and light. Not all of the "good" characters are entirely good, and learning that will be part of the growing-up process for our teenage heroes. There are dark moments, deaths, family conflicts, mistakes by our characters, all of which is part of life and which Jones never spares us.

The ending did seem sort of hurried, not as though Jones had run out of ideas (I can't imagine that) but as though she were forced to keep the book within reasonable bounds. And, to a certain extent, the ending is telegraphed within the book. Usually, Jones is a bit more clever about that.

As usual, Jones borrows liberally from legend and story, and makes it all her own. While not quite as good as "Deep Secret", still a fine, fine addition to her works--and leaving enough unresolved (I could have heard more about Nick's panther and what it indicates about him) to hope for more episodes in Nick's story, and that of Roddy and her world as well.

Highly recommended.

Diana Wynne Jones is a marvel. This is a children's book, a sequel to her adult scifi/fantasy "Deep Secret," but everyone should read both, one right after the other. This book is *very* sophisticated for a kid's book, mostly because in part the narrative has the weird, disjointed atmosphere of dreams. Still, it's a terrific story, and some parts of it are laugh-out-loud hilarious (particularly if you're a fan of Douglas Adams, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, etc.). Once again Wynne Jones has created two utterly great protagonists (Nick Mallory from Deep Secret, and a new character named Roddy who is another of Wynne Jones' standard feisty, mercurial, unsentimental heroines), plus a bunch of completely great supporting characters, including a girlishly nervous elephant and twin witches who are more maddening than a roomful of Eloises. The story careens around in time and space, every action is not without a reaction in the future, and in the process Wynne Jones actually makes a convincing case for *not* having to like horrible relatives just because they're your blood. Amazing! I hope to God she never stops writing, as her imagination and vision are mind-boggling, as well as being wildly entertaining.

Diana Wynne Jones has been publishing wonderful fantasy novels for over 30 years. Most of her work has been aimed nominally at "young adults", but it most definitely appeals to adults of any age. Her new novel, The Merlin Conspiracy, is set in the same Multiverse as her 1997 novel Deep Secret, and it features Nick Mallory, a character from the earlier book, but it is an independent story.

The Merlin Conspiracy follows two characters. Arianhrod ("Roddy") Hyde is the daughter of a weather magician at the Court of the King of Blest, the England-analog in her universe. She and her young friend Grundo discover a plot involving Grundo's unpleasant mother and her new boyfriend as well as the new Merlin of Blest. The rest of her family becomes enchanted in various ways and unable to move against this plot. Roddy and Grundo become separated from the Progress of the Court (the King cannot stay in any one place for long) and they gad across Blest, looking for help from Roddy's two powerful Grandfathers, and her eccentric Grandmother. Along the way she inherits the magical knowledge of a long-dead Welshwoman, and she summons a wizard to help her.

This wizard turns out to be Nick Mallory, who is the adopted son of an Earth writer, but who really comes from another part of the Multiverse, and who aspires to wizardry but hasn't actually learned much. Somewhat by accident, he has ended up lost in another universe, from which he wanders to some additional ones, after a threat from a powerful wizard named Romanov. Nick follows Romanov to his strange island, in several universes at once, and there he meets an elephant named Mini. He is also contacted by Roddy, and it becomes clear that he is supposed to help her, and also that he is very attracted to her.

Eventually all the principals end up in Blest, where things are getting worse and worse. The plot seems on the verge of succeeding, and the two young people, with help from a few others they've gathered along the way, must risk the balance of Magic in the entire Multiverse by Raising the Land, in hopes of foiling the conspirators.

This is a fine novel, but not quite Jones at her very best. Jones's magical imagination is delightful as ever, but at times things do seem a bit arbitrary. And the plot, though in the end worked out pretty nicely, also seems arbitrary for long stretches. Still, even if not her best work, it's very good -- Nick and Roddy are interesting characters, and well-portrayed, with real and believable problems and shortcomings. Many of the minor characters are delights as well -- particularly the elephant Mini. Recommended.

Original review follows, under the asterisks, but I had to amend this after reading another DWJ book called "Deep Secret." The Nick of "The Merlin Conspiracy" is the same Nick from "Deep Secret." The storyline in "Deep Secret" predates "The Merlin Conspiracy," but not by much - you could surmise that maybe six months of Nick's life have passed between the two books. Given Nick's very large role in the first book, you might expect, in the second book, some references to the happenings in "Deep Secret." At the beginning of "The Merlin Conspiracy," Nick gives us his full (Korfyonic) name, and mentions in an internal monologue that he has abdicated the throne in favor of his brother Rob - but that's about all the history of the previous book that is given.

Now, "The Merlin Conspiracy" is in no way a sequel to the other book. But after reading "Deep Secret" I'm more than a little amazed, and somewhat disappointed, that Nick's internal monologues don't include such topics as how his sister/cousin Maree is doing in her new Magid lifestyle or what it's like to have a centaur/Emperor as a brother. In fact, the character of Nick in "The Merlin Conspiracy" could have been written as an entirely new DWJ character. Maybe it should have been.

In any case, I'd read "Deep Secret" first if you're interested in both of them; that way, the few cryptic comments referring back to it will make some sense to you when reading "The Merlin Conspiracy," instead of just seeming like typical fantasy book backstory/filler).

**
It seems that a lot of authors have sprung on the "English boy who doesn't know he's got magic powers" bandwagon after the success of you-know-who (er, I don't mean Voldemort!). However, Diana Wynne Jones has been writing this sort of thing for a long time and "The Merlin Conspiracy" is one of the better books she's written. Dealing as her books usually do with the many-worlds theory, it begins with one young girl who travels with the King's court in the England of her world (called Blest rather than England), and continues later with Nick, a boy in a different version of England who knows about magic powers but doesn't believe he has any. The story is written in alternating chapters, first one by Roddy (the girl), then one by Nick, and so on.

Where this book differs from some of the more "heavy magic" books is in its humor. A circus elephant gets lost in the paths between worlds and ends up playing a supporting role - the fact that her name is "Mini" seems like forced humor, but it's the only example of forced humor I can remember in the book. (An interesting question: when Mini speaks her name, why does Nick understand it to be "Mini" and not "Minnie"? I'd argue that anyone hearing that word pronounced as a name would visualize the name "Minnie" and not the other word. But this is a minor point [pun intended].)

Anyway, this is an enjoyable a read as I've had in some time. Fans of HP, Artemis Fowl, and the Bartimaeus Trilogy will probably enjoy this, as well as most of Ms. Jones' other works.

Diana Wynne-Jones is one of the best authors of fantasy still living, from her hilarious spoof "Tough Guide to Fantasyland" to the wizard Chrestomanci. And fans of her imaginative books won't be disappointed with "Merlin Conspiracy."

Roddy has lived a fairly ordinary existance in an alternate version of Britain, as the daughter of two Court Wizards and part of the Progress (which goes around the Islands of Blest and gives various rituals where they are needed). Soon the Merlin (the sort of magical leader) dies and a new Merlin is chosen -- except the new Merlin may not be right for the job, because suddenly rituals and magic are going awry.

In a different world, a teenager named Nick slips into what seems to be a dream world -- but is actually another universe altogether. He wants to go to other worlds, but it turns out to be a lot more dangerous than he had believed it would be. And Roddy needs his help to fix the magic, before the conspiracy overwhelms them.

"Merlin Conspiracy" is, like most of Jones's books, complicated and twisted without being bewildering. The characterizations are tight and realistic, and the writing is quite good. "Merlin Conspiracy" shows a certain polish that comes from long experience, and Jones knows how to use her strengths by now.

Like many of her books, "Merlin Conspiracy" is funny and well-plotted. The dialogue is excellent ("If you say "Alicia" quickly it sounds just like a well-behaved sneeze - just like Alicia, in fact.") And though this book is written in the first person, unlike many of Jones's books, it doesn't detract from her deft writing.

Roddy and Nick are flawed in a likable way. Roddy is a bit bossy and fussy at times, and Nick is more languid and inclined to take things less seriously. They seem very real. Grundo and the "Merlin" are also quite well written; so is the very large and unusual cast, including obnoxious witch twins, assassins, the lord of the dead, dragons, goats, silver tea services, and plenty of wizards...

"Merlin Conspiracy" is a fun fantasy for adults and kids alike (regardless of age, you have to be drawn in by the complex plotting). Definitely an entertaining read, and no sign of Jones's talents on the wane.

While not quite up to the level of her classic children's works - Archer's Goon or Witch Week - The Merlin Conspiracy is definitely one of the best, and most characteristic, books she's written in a long time.

Plot Summary

Roddy's world is in trouble; only she and her friend Grundo know there's a conspiracy to unseat her King, and no one will listen to them. Nick, meanwhile, is having his own problems. His attempts to learn magic aren't working, he misses the adventures he used to have, and apparently someone wants him dead. But when Roddy, Nick, and Grundo unite, they'll be able to solve the problems of several different worlds, and their own into the bargain.

Commentary

This is a children's novel, but it's sort of a sequel to Jones's adult novel Deep Secret. This causes a few complications. The adult main characters from Deep Secret (Maree and Rupert) don't appear in Merlin; Nick Mallory has a starring role without ever mentioning his cousin or friend. Also, there's some redundancy in explanations. But a fan of Deep Secret will still enjoy Merlin Conspiracy. And Merlin Conspiracy can stand alone, although readers of the first book will be far more familiar with the world and the concepts in it.

This book resembles Deep Secret in narration. Varying narrators tell the story in first person, sometimes offering different viewpoints on the same events but sometimes relating entirely different plot threads. However, this isn't complicated enough to pose serious problems for any kid old enough to read the book in the first place.

And this book is well worth reading. The plot is quite good, an unusually well-done mystery for children. The world is infinitely more appealing and realistic than, for example, the one from Dark Lord of Derkholm. And Jones does something she hasn't done in a kid's book since her heyday - she provides characters with real flaws as well as real strengths. The multiple-narrator technique works well here, giving the reader different takes on each main character.

All in all, this is an excellent book for children or adults. Fans of Jones's previous work will almost certainly enjoy Merlin Conspiracy. It isn't as funny or as enchanting as her best books, but it is one that will definitely stand the test of time.

I've got to start by stating that Diana Wynne Jones is one of my favorite authors - I love most of her books. But I was very disappointed in this one. The best description I can come up with is "confusing and boring". The characters are uninteresting and the plot uninvolving. Her attempts at humor (usually very adept) fall flat and the whole thing feels incredibly silly. I had to skip long dull sections just to make it 3/4 of the way through the novel before giving up. I hope this isn't a taste of Jones books to come.

I waited a long time for this book to come out. When I finally got it, I was disappointed. The first few chapters of the book felt promising...I was glued to the pages. As the book went on though, the plot went downhill. Unlike her similar book, Deep Secret, The Merlin Conspiracy didn't seem to flow right with the multiverse that DS created. Merlin Conspiracy seemed more to be a cross between the multiverse of infinity, and the worlds of Chrestomanci.

I would still recommend this book to readers. It was a fun read, even if it was disappointing. I would prefer Deep Secret to the Merlin Conspiracy anyday.

Roddy and Grundo live in Blest and are the children of court wizards who are in perpetual progress around the country with their king. They are also the only people to escape being caught in plot by some evil court wizards to gather all the magic in Blest to themselves.

Nick lives on earth with his step-dad, though his real home is in another universe entirely. Nick desperately wants to travel between the worlds but has been unable to summon the magic to do it himself till one day he finds himself suddenly somehow shoved into the dark paths between worlds where he must help 3 people to escape. One of those people who asks for his help is Roddy.

This is an enjoyable novel for both younger and older readers, that follows the adventures of Nick, Roddy and Grundo as they try and get the adults of their worlds to believe in the conspiracy that only they seem to know about. It's told from the point of view of both Nick and Roddy and the narrative is split between them and it holds you easily until the end of the book and leaves you wishing there was sequel where you could get to know more about these characters.

The Merlin Conspiracy (2003) is a fantasy novel about the Islands of Blest, an equivalent of the British Isles in another timeline. Roddy and Grundo are two children of the Court who travel in the King's Progress. They live in buses and move frequently. They hardly ever get to stay in real buildings and sometimes they have to use the drafty bathtent for their showers. Worse yet, Roddy and Grundo are the only mages in their age group at Court.

Roddy's father is the Court Weather Wizard and her mother works in the exchequer keeping track of the King's money. Grundo's mother is the Court Earthmistress and she favors her daughter, Alicia, over Grundo; only Sybil knows who is the father of Grundo and Alicia. Roddy and Grundo began to notice something unusual going on after the death of the current Merlin. Then Roddy's maternal grandfather sends a car around to bring the two for a visit and the Court has moved on elsewhere they return.

Nick is the foster son of Ted Mallory, a writer of horror stories, and the former heir of the Koryfonic empire... He is a typically self-centered teenaged boy who is convinced to accompany his foster father to a convention of mystery writers. There he is bumped across the timelines to one where the English Empire covers most of Europe. He appears within a group of people near a flier and is assumed to be an apprentice who is late for an assignment with an Imperial security mage unit. At first he thinks he is dreaming and then he is afraid that he is not.

Roddy and Grundo meet Nick on a dark path between timelines and Nick sort of agrees to come to Blest to help them solve their problem. However, he has a few problems of his own to solve and several unexpected encounters to survive.

This novel is one of the author's Magid stories. The Magid in this tale turns out to be one of the unexpected encounters during Nick's path through the timelines. However, the Magid does add a touch of stability as well as bringing Nick together with Roddy and Grundo. Of course, there are also the panther, the elephant, the goat, and the white and red dragons.

Recommended for Jones fans and anyone else who enjoys zany, action-filled tales of magic and intrigue.

-Arthur W. Jordin